Today, we’re taking a quick look at another Irish whiskey as we count down to St. Patrick’s Day. John and James McConnell established their distillery and brewery in 1899, following the passing of their father, Hugh McConnell. Today, the distillery operates out of North Belfast. For this review, I picked up a 50ml bottle of their 5-Year Irish Whiskey. Let’s dive in.

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Nose: vanilla, spices and citrus

Palate: light sweetness, vanilla, fruit and oak

Finish: spices, oak and lightly sweet

Cost: $35

ABV: 42%

Cost: $4.99 (what I paid for a 50ml; a 750ml goes for around $35)

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Let me be frank—I wasn’t expecting much from this whiskey. It’s young, and the ABV is on the lower side. But honestly? This surprised me. Here’s why: aside from being affordable, it drinks light and easy, and despite only being 5 years old, it doesn’t have that rough edge I usually associate with younger whiskies. Those often come across a bit harsh to me, but this one is far from that.

Yes, it’s youthful, but it still offers an enjoyable drinkability. You get sweetness, vanilla, and some fruity notes. It’s not groundbreaking, but not every whiskey needs to knock you off your feet. This is solid—simple, but enjoyable. So, if that’s what you’re after, and you want it at a good price, this one’s a winner.

Cheers!

Note: The contents on my blog are solely my opinion. To me every palate is different! Although I may or may not like a product, I always recommend people to try it and make up their own minds.